Comparing and Identifying Fractions on a Number Line

Directions: Using the digits 1 to 9 exactly once, fill in the boxes to create and place 4 fractions on the number line in the correct order. (fractions B & C are equal)

Hint

Hint

The sum of the equivalent fractions is greater than a half and greater than a quarter separate. How do you know if two fractions are equivalent? How do you know if fractions are less than or greater than another fraction?

A group of students worked on this yesterday as they reviewed equivalent fractions and ordering…and they/we had so much fun doing! It was their first “open-middle” task with the recording sheet. I am so excited about this task. There were so many great discussions, mistakes, revisions…

My son spent a few hours seeking to find the most optimal answer based on the partitioning of the number line. He makes a case for 2/5, 3/6,7/14, 8/9. The difference or distance between 3/6 and 8/9 is approx. 4 times the distance between 2/5 and 3/6.

What fun. Today we were comparing fractions to 1/2. I wanted to test this out myself before I introduced it to the class. I thought, if I make B 1/2 or its equivalent, than I can use the left over digits to create a fraction less than 1/2, and another greater than 1/2. I came up with a = 3/9, b = 2/4 = 8/16, and d = 5/7. I wonder if any of my students will think this way.